I purchased using AUP replacing my current phone and walked out of the store with an un opened box, like it was said by Attila, its all done by scanning the barcodes to activate.
It doesn't really make much sense, those of you whom were not allowed to leave with an unopened box have you ever ordered a phone online? Does that box come open too?
Also did the upgrade program and walked out of the store with a sealed box. Barcodes were scanned to activate it on my Verizon account. Went back to my car, turned the old phone off, new phone on, and away I went.
Yeah if you're picking in store they have to do that. Only had it done with a 3GS, and a replacement 5s. If you have it shipped, you can obsess about it as much as you want. As much as good mental health allows hopefully.